Two former Parramatta Eels players are accused of harbouring semi-automatic weapons and possessing more than half-a-million dollars in cash after dramatic arrests in Sydney's Centennial Park yesterday.

Govts trade blows over auto funds

The South Australian and Victorian governments have traded insults over the demise of Australia's car manufacturing industry, with the federal government also criticised over its complacency towards car workers.

Not surprisingly the federal government has sided with Victoria, criticising South Australia's failure to provide funding to a $100 million assistance package for those set to lose their jobs when Ford, Holden and Toyota close their local manufacturing plants.

But the car industry union says the commonwealth has equally failed to meet its own deadline for providing details on the package.

Dr Napthine started the argy-bargy on Wednesday when he said the South Australian Labor government had been "absolutely recalcitrant" and had not put $1 on the table towards the assistance package.

He later told state parliament that Mr Weatherill has been "missing in action" and caught out not supporting workers in transition.

Mr Weatherill said Dr Napthine had been slow to recognise the potential for Holden and Toyota to close and was wrong in regard to SA's willingness to provide assistance.

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"Poor old Denis has been asleep at the wheel while we've been out there promoting the interests of the automotive sector in this nation," he told reporters on Wednesday.

"I was content to leave his sloth as something that was not a subject of public comment until he's decided to wade into the debate," the SA premier said.

Mr Weatherill said South Australia had already indicated it would provide $12 million to the assistance package, but maintained the federal government's contribution of $60 million was inadequate.

The Australian Manufacturing Workers Union (AMWU) said the federal government's failure to unveil details of the proposed assistance package showed Prime Minister Tony Abbott continued to have contempt for the manufacturing industry.

"Holden, Ford and the South Australian state government have said that they want to see the details of the assistance fund before they contribute their share," AMWU national vehicle division secretary Dave Smith said.

"This is not an unreasonable request, but Prime Minister Abbott is unreasonably dragging his feet.

"Tony Abbott's complacency on this issue speaks volumes."

Coalition frontbencher Christopher Pyne said the federal government's $60 million would ensure workers in the car industry were given the necessary training and career development to use their skills in other parts of the economy.

He said Mr Weatherill was "very good at talking about things rather than actually doing things".

"I would ask him to put some money where his mouth is about their Holden workers."